A Stormy Night: You Are Mine

CHAPTER 1 – A Stormy Night: Encounter with Her- You Are Mine

Emily Hook had always dreamed of a better life, but the reality of her existence in A City was far from glamorous. She worked at ‘Rex,’ the city’s most renowned pub, just to make ends meet and fund her higher education. It wasn’t a job she was proud of, but it allowed her to attend college during the day and work the night shifts, with a salary that far surpassed what she could earn from a full-time position elsewhere. As the only daughter of a single parent, she had no choice but to fend for herself.

Her mother had passed away during childbirth, leaving her in the care of a father who was more interested in alcohol than in his daughter’s well-being. When he tried to marry her off to an older man for money, Emily had managed to escape, arriving in A City with nothing but the clothes on her back. Since then, she had been surviving on her own. ……….You Are Mine

One night, after finishing her shift at ‘Rex,’ Emily hurried down the street, her mind already drifting to the warmth of her hostel bed. Suddenly, the sky opened up, and rain poured down in torrents. She was drenched within seconds, her clothes clinging to her body as she shivered uncontrollably.

Scanning the street for shelter, she spotted a small tea stall with a roof that could protect her from the downpour. The stall was closed for the night, but the shelter was enough to keep the rain off her. She dragged her soaked body under the roof and tried to wring out her skirt, but the cold rain and wind made her shiver even more.

A city like A City, where the weather was as unpredictable as a rollercoaster, could be cruel. July was not the rainy season, but the climate was fickle, with summer showers, typhoons, and thunderstorms at night, and scorching heatwaves during the day. Emily always carried an umbrella, but tonight, she had left it behind in her rush to work. ……….You Are Mine

As she rubbed her hands together, trying to generate some warmth, a black Bentley pulled up beside her. The window rolled down, revealing a stern face. “Get in,” a cold voice commanded.

Emily looked up, her eyes widening in surprise. It was Christopher Hues, the co-owner of ‘Rex.’ She had never met him during her six months of working there, but she had heard plenty about him from her colleagues. He was the sole heir of the Hues clan, one of the most successful and wealthiest businessmen in A City. She knew better than to refuse him. ……….You Are Mine

She stepped forward and reached for the back-door handle, but he shouted, “Are you taking me for your driver?” Flustered, she apologized and opened the front door, sliding into the seat beside him.

As she settled in, he handed her a tissue. “Wipe your face,” he ordered. “Thank you, Sir,” she murmured, wiping the rain from her face. “Please drop me at Mother Mary’s Women’s Hostel,” she requested in a soft voice.

Without a word, he started the car. The air conditioning made her shiver even more, and she hugged herself, trying to stay warm. Christopher noticed her miserable state and turned off the air conditioning. A few minutes later, she leaned to one side, unconscious. He slammed on the brakes and checked her forehead, feeling the heat radiating from her skin. She had a high fever. ……….You Are Mine

He quickly called someone on his phone. “Come to Golden Villa, now,” he said before hanging up. The person on the other end was Dr. Mark Pattison, the most talented physician in the country and a childhood friend of Christopher’s. It was 3:30 a.m., and Mark was puzzled by the urgency of the call, but he knew better than to question Christopher’s orders. He grabbed his medical bag and hurried to the villa.

At Golden Villa, Christopher laid Emily on the bed and asked his maid, Meddy, to change her wet clothes. Meddy had worked for the Hues family for years, first for Stephen Hues, Christopher’s father, and later for Christopher himself. Despite his cold demeanor, Christopher was generous to a select few, and Meddy was one of them.

Meddy picked up a nightgown and approached the bed, but as she looked at Emily’s face, her hand began to tremble. She dropped the nightgown, stepped back, and ran to her room in the courtyard, her face pale with fear. Christopher didn’t call her back; he had anticipated her reaction. Emily’s face was enough to frighten anyone.

Emily lay unconscious in her wet clothes, her body burning with fever. Christopher’s only concern was for her well-being. He entered the bedroom, undressed her, and put on the nightgown. Her fever was still high, and Mark had yet to arrive. Christopher’s temper began to rise, but then he heard the sound of a car pulling up outside. In an instant, Mark Pattison appeared, breathless and anxious.

……….You Are Mine

“Cure her,” Christopher commanded, pointing to the bed. Mark approached, but he recoiled in shock upon seeing Emily’s face. “This… is she… How is it possible?” he stammered.

“She is not her,” Christopher replied in a deep, cold voice.

“It’s really a cruel joke. She has a face exactly like hers. Where did you find her?” Mark asked, his voice muffled with disbelief.

“Stop talking and treat her,” Christopher said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Mark quickly checked Emily’s temperature with a thermometer. She had a fever of 105°F. He administered an injection immediately. “The fever will subside within an hour. Ask Meddy to sponge her,” he instructed.

“Meddy ran away after seeing her face,” Christopher informed him.

“Oh, then I’ll have to do it. Give me a towel and a basin,” Mark said seriously.

“You don’t need to do this. You can leave now. I’ll take care of it,” Christopher said, his tone warning Mark to back off.

“Why are you always so domineering, Chriss? Isn’t it a doctor’s duty to treat his patient? Moreover, she really needs a sponge. I can’t leave unless her fever subsides,” Mark argued.

“I see. You can stay in the next room. I’ll call you if needed,” Christopher said. Mark understood his concern and accepted the offer, retreating to the next room to rest. ……….You Are Mine

Christopher brought a basin of water and a towel and began to sponge Emily’s body. After about twenty minutes, beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, and her temperature began to drop. As he wiped her face, his hand paused, and he subconsciously touched her lips with his finger. A surge of electricity ran through his body.

He couldn’t understand why his heart refused to accept Emily’s identity. He had checked her background thoroughly, twice, and the information was clear: she was not his Alice. Yet, his heart clung to the hope that she might be. He had studied her every movement, her body language, and her temperament, and he knew she was not Alice, but he still couldn’t let go of the idea.

Every night, he secretly visited ‘Rex’ and stayed until her shift ended, following her back to her hostel without her knowledge. Tonight was no different, but seeing her drenched in the rain had been too much for him. He couldn’t resist taking her with him.

Now, with her so close, in his house, on his bed, he couldn’t resist the urge to touch her. He wanted to be sure she hadn’t undergone plastic surgery to look like Alice. He examined every detail of her face, but there was no sign of any alterations. His hand lingered on her lips, and suddenly, she let out a faint sound. “Ahhh…”

Christopher pulled back, staring at her with deep, assessing eyes. She shifted in her sleep, and he frowned, about to move her closer, when there was a knock on the door. Mark poked his head in. “Is she okay?”

“Who is the doctor here?” Christopher retorted. ……….You Are Mine

“Damn it, do you still consider me a doctor? Haven’t you chased me out a while ago, let alone treat her?” Mark said with a gloomy face.

Christopher didn’t respond. Mark entered the room and checked Emily’s temperature. “The fever has started to subside. She’ll be fine soon,” he said, taking out some medicine. “Give her this tablet once she wakes up and only light food. I’m leaving now, but I’ll come again in the morning for the check-up.”

Without another word, Mark left. Christopher didn’t ask him to stay, nor did he see him off. Instead, he changed into a night suit and lay down beside Emily. Despite his mysophobia, he hugged her sweating body, holding her close without hesitation.

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